This study explores metaphors we use to make sense of organizational reality. One hundred thirty-two mission statements collected across the University of North Carolina system comprise the textual source of analysis. Austin and Searle's speech act theory is employed to intertextually identify metaphors, which are then analyzed in line with Weick's framework of sensemaking. Elements of the sensemaking process are evidenced in hierarchical metaphors: (i) environment-screening: "environment as change (organizations as positioned, time-pacer, and wind-catcher);" (ii) enactment: "enactment as...